Related Quotes

Company Profile

In the Serbian capital Belgrade, the national parliament, the national museum and all five bridges were among the landmarks that went without illumination.

In neighbouring Bosnia, the lights went out at Sarajevo cathedral and at the Old Bridge in the south-western town of Mostar, which dates back to the Ottoman Empire.

Earlier, Sydney had kicked off the event to cheers and applause from a small crowd that had gathered to see the skyline dim and Sydney Opera House turn a deep green to symbolise renewable energy.

“It’s been a very inspiring night because it’s all about hope and change," said Jessica Bellamy, one of the spectators.

Japan switched off soon after Australia, with the illumination on the landmark Tokyo Tower dimming down as visitors were given the chance to pedal bicycles to generate power to illuminate an egg-shaped artwork.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site in the country’s west, also sat in darkness.

In the Chinese capital Beijing, lights went out at the former Olympic stadium, the Bird’s Nest, while in the commercial hub of Shanghai buildings along the famed riverfront Bund took part.

Hong Kong’s iconic skyline appeared to vanish into the night as the neon lights and advertising hoardings that usually brighten the sky were turned off, leaving the harbour in darkness.

In Singapore, a crowd of almost 1000 people watched from a floating platform as landmarks on the skyline dimmed, before a pulsating musical performance had people dancing in the dark ahead of a film screening.

India’s capital New Delhi switched off floodlights at some of its iconic monuments including Qutab Minar, Humayun’s Tomb and the sprawling Red Fort.

“Earth Hour" originated in Sydney with a simple appeal to people and businesses to turn off their lights for an hour to raise awareness of carbon pollution.

“I think the power of Earth Hour is in its ability to connect people and connect them on an issue that they really care about which is the environment," said
Dermot O’Gorman
, head of WWF-Australia as the city stood in darkness.

“Earth Hour shows that there are millions of people around the world who also want to do something."